Stonehenge and cousin Avebury, a great combo
Written: Sep 23 '02 (Updated Jan 02 '04)
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Pros: Massive Wonder that is awe inspiring
Cons: close to the roads, but it was there first. Did Druids build the roads?
The Bottom Line: this can be a fascinating and awe inspiring experience!! Go with an open mind and a sense of wonderment.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Stonehenge |
About four years ago my wife and I were motoring through the Cotswolds of England. This is an area of quaint towns, rolling hills, and sheep. It was lovely!
I learned that driving was going from one place to another, a determined plan. Motoring is different, it's just wandering around in your motor car happening upon places.
We had just finished a week in the Cotswolds and Bath and were motoring on our way back towards London. We came upon a town called Avebury. After further investigation we found out that the archaeological site there is part of the worlds largest monument of the megalithic age. This isn't in hight or size of stones, that seems to be held by Stonehenge. This is area of land dedicated to the building of earthen ditches and banks, huge stones, and avenues to sites.
I was amazed by what we saw. We were in a town and intermixed within homes and stores were these stones and banks and ditches. What I really liked about it was that you could just walk among all the stones. The area continued out into the open area and was incredible to be a part of. You could touch the stones and be photographed with them. Some by their shapes were female stones and others were noted as male. All this is explained in a brochure you can pick up at the museum. There is a charge for the museum but walking around the rest was free. It encompasses quite a large area and you can go as far as you like or stay in a more contained area. My wife and I walked around the area. It is accessible to those in wheelchairs, I suppose as long as the earth isn't too wet. There was a very special feeling about this place. It is hard to explain but you do realize that somehow, to someone, this was a holy place and reverence should be shown.
The landscape was well marked and where stones may have been taken over the years concrete markers kept their place. Over the centuries the some of the many huge stones that were here were taken for building other structures, homes, churches and the like. Of course this can no longer be done as the whole area of this site and that of that of Stonehenge are now protected by English Heritage, an independent group set up by Parliament to care for these and other like sites.
This was an extremely relaxing and thoroughly interesting area to be in. We spent about three hours just walking among the stones. Then we read that Stonehenge was just twenty four miles south of here.
We did not have Stonehenge on our itinerary. As I said we were motoring. After walking the stones of Avesbury well, I suddenly had a great need to go to Stonehenge! We were catching a flight back to the states that evening and time was no longer on our side but, I had to go!!
My wife tried talking me out of it. Before our trip we had agreed that Stonehenge would be another time. No longer for me. Now, I must go Now!! That was the feeling as we were now driving to Stonehenge, and fast driving at that. We had two things against us. It was three thirty pm and Stonehenge closes four pm that time of year. We were there in late November. The hours are extended to six and seven o'clock in the warmer months.
Besides trying to get there just in time we also had a seven forty-five pm flight back home. I justified the side trip to Carolyn as not really being much out of the way. Maybe it did take us south when we should have been traveling east. Oh well, I put the pedal to the metal and off we went.
Coming up to the stone monoliths from the road was surprising and awesome at the same time. I suppose I didn't expect them to be right of the road. In fact they are close to an intersection of two roads. One of these roads come from Salisbury just nine miles south. Out of the Salisbury you can get a bus to the site right from the train station that is connected to all the major local cities including London. You can get guided tours out of here also.
So I see the huge stones and then follow the signs to the parking lot. It's five minutes of four! We pull into the parking lot that is situated on the far side of the road from the stones. We get out and run to the ticket booth. Prices were eight dollars and about four for kids five to sixteen years old. We got out out money, in pounds, and we were told sorry we are just closing. I then went into my speech of "traveling so far to see it", "may never get there again", "I'm an archaeologist" (I'm not), "this is my last living request" (thankfully it wasn't), etc etc. Finally after realizing I wasn't going away she said ok.
I then say to my wife, run ahead and get the self guiding tape player. I paid for admission and the tape recording. One for each of us. She runs under the overpass grabs two tapes and heads up. I'm close behind. As we start moving up the other side of the path there, in front of us, are the stones. I suppose with all the distraction of getting in I was caught by surprise. They are immense!! As we got closer I realized what a remarkable feat it was to build these creations. I don't know if they have the final answers to the history of these structures. I heard things from Druids to aliens and a bit more down to earth as a structure of ancient Britts who believe in an Earth Mother and a Sky Father and this was a place were they, Mother and Father, came together to create all there is. This, though still just a theory, was very intrigueing, and the mating process that happens every year is quite interesting.
So now my wife is trying to get her tape to work. It should be easy, hit play and listen. She tries it and gets garble. She then tries mine, that one isn't working correctly either. A nearby woman who has one says "May I help you" Carolyn gives he the tape players, the woman hits play, puts it up to her ear and then starts laughing. She then looks to the two of us and asks "Do either of you speak Japanese?" Well needless to say haste made waste. We did get the proper English speaking tape and continued.
We were not able to get to touch or get within fifteen feet of the monoliths but they were really a site to behold.
We spent about a half hour listening to the interesting tape and looking at the stones. I strongly suggest getting there much earlier and following all the tape says, and the area has to offer. It's not just the huge stone but more. Here as in Avebury there are earthen ditches, banks, and avenues to follow and explore. If you give it a chance it's much more than a ring of stones.
To look at the huge stones that are over 60 tons is a wonder. Some of the lintels, the table tops, weigh about six tons. How did they get up there? How did they get to the area. Some are from a hundred miles away in Whales and others are from the Avebury area. Who did it? How was it brought here? How was it built! Why did they do it? Will we ever know for sure? I wonder.
Doing both the sites in one day was an excellent way for me to get immersed in the history and the lore of the area. There are places to stay in Avebury, and Salisbury south of Stonehenge. I loved being free having the car.
I was free until looking at my watch, it's now five pm. They do let you walk around a while after closing time. We now have to get into the car, drive to the airport, drop off the rental car, go through airline processes and make the plane. We arrived at the gate just as the plane was boarding.
I hope you get the chance to discover these two fascinating places, Stonehenge and Avebury. We loved it!
Stonehenge one of destinations listed in the book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die. To read about the book and see some of the other listings go to
1,000 Places to See Before You Die
other reviews of the area by Popsrocks
Bath
http://www.epinions.com/content_82045865604
Cotswolds
http://www.epinions.com/content_81986424452
London
http://www.epinions.com/content_89080172164
Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, London
http://www.epinions.com/content_81955294852
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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